The DND Flyway is one of the most important roads in Delhi-NCR. The Supreme Court, in November 2016, had stayed collection of toll for passage. However, residents alleged that the flyway is being ignored since.

CONRWA members said that the maintenance of the road has been affected since the flyway was made toll-free from November 11, 2016.(Burhaan Kinu/HT File)

The confederation of NCR residents’ welfare association (CONRWA) has asked the Noida authority chief and the Delhi chief minister to ensure that the Delhi-Noida-Direct (DND) Flyway is maintained and cleaned regularly.

CONRWA members said that the maintenance of the road has been affected since the flyway was made toll-free from November 11, 2016, following Supreme Court orders. They said that cleaning is irregular, lighting is poor and there is a lack of upkeep of plants along the road.

CONRWA president, PS Jain, said, “The possession of the road is with the toll bridge company. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the said company to maintain it. We have written to the Noida authority to get the work done and arrange the services in public interest.”

CONRWA members said that toll collection by the municipal corporation of Delhi hampers traffic movement as vehicles are parked in a haphazard manner. They said that the obstruction should be checked and the toll collection should be done in an organised manner.

Jain said that the ownership of the road beyond the toll booth lies with the Delhi government and they will also approach the Delhi chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, to ensure swift action.

“We have also suggested that a joint action committee of Noida authority, DND toll company and Delhi government be formed for all round maintenance of the road, which is a lifeline for NCR,” Jain said.

A spokesperson for the DND Flyway concessionaire, Anwar Abbasi, said that the flyway is being well maintained by Noida Toll Bridge Company Limited. “There are no potholes on the flyway. The roads are properly maintained and we are as careful about the upkeep of the stretch as before. Our personnel are deputed at the security checkpoints. However, there is some disorder at the MCD toll booths where vehicles cause a bottleneck, but that is not under our control,” he said.

In a letter addressed to the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Noida authority, CONRWA also requested that police patrolling be beefed up and fire tenders and ambulances be deployed to attend to emergencies.

Last Tuesday, commuters were stuck in a heavy traffic jam after a car caught fire on the DND Flyway around 9pm. Vehicles lined up to around three kilometres due to a delayed response to douse the flames and clear the traffic. Due to the poor presence of the police and traffic personnel, commuters started moving towards Delhi in the opposite lane, which worsened the situation.